Le Mans Cars Headed Out For Afternoon Practice

By John Coyle

Editor

As I mentioned earlier, the Detroit stop of the American Le Mans Series is a street course. So after the drivers finish tearing it up this weekend, the asphalt will go back to hosting regular folks driving at regular speeds. And while road courses are tricky for drivers—they’re generally bumpier and more technical than purpose-built tracks—they also make taking pics of the cars in action a lot more difficult. Now, at most of the tracks I’ve been to, a little bit of hiking will put you into a position where you can get some good shots, but when the circuit is defined by concrete barriers, all the photographers basically wind up pointing their lenses through little gun slits, and getting access to those requires credentials I don’t have. Another thing that’s that’s making this stop a little tricky is the fact that there’s also an IRL race happening this weekend, and as a result, all the pits are crammed so close together that there’s barely any wiggle room between them. Basically, that means getting pit shots involves being smack in the middle of a bunch of dudes trying to wrench on their race car—which isn’t a good place to be. I’ll be posting all the pics I’ve managed to get later, but for now, check out this sweet clip of the American Le Mans cars heading out for afternoon practice and qualifying. There’s so much horsepower here, I’m dizzy!